Loch Ness
Without doubt, the fame
of Loch Ness and its monster is known all over the world. The
sightings over the years are at the core of the Loch Ness 2000
Exhibition Centre and the Original Loch Ness Monster Visitors
Centre, both at Drumnadrochit. In addition, the complex here has
wide-ranging quality souvenir shopping, including kilts and whisky.
But Loch Ness has much more than an
elusive monster. There are plenty of attractions on both sides of
the loch. These include the interesting 3-acre garden at Abriachan,
while just below Drumnadrochit is Urquhart Castle with its visitor
centre telling the story of this important Great Glen fortress. Fort
Augustus is a good place to watch the life of the Caledonian Canal
at the series of locks here. Also here, visitors can enjoy the
Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre, a Rare Breeds Park and also the
Clansman Centre, a living museum based round a reconstructed 17th
century turf house. Costumed (and armed!) clansfolk give a vivid
insight into Highland life of old.
The south side of the loch is the
quieter of the two sides. The roads here were originally built as
military roads to connect the garrison at Inverness with Fort
Augustus and Fort William. From the Suidhe Chumein viewpoint on the
B862, the straightness of the soldiers' work can be appreciated. The
Falls of Foyers on the B852, as the road descends to loch level, are
also worth viewing and there are a number of parking areas along this road
where good views of, and access to the loch shore, can be peacefully enjoyed.
Activities in the area include
walking in Farigaig Forest at Inverfarigaig, cycling on the Great
Glen Cycleway, also pony trekking, golf and angling. In summary,
this is an area close to Inverness with fine scenery but also a good
choice for families, especially on the water, with motor-cruisers
for hire and also guided cruises available on Loch Ness.
The Loch Ness and Inverness areas
offers plenty to see and do, with a good range of historic sites and
castles, as well as Europe's best preserved 18th-century fort at
Fort George. The sport and activity choice is also wide-ranging and
includes both cruising on Loch Ness (monsters, maybe) and also on
the Moray Firth (dolphins, almost definitely). Shopping for Scottish
crafts, plus all the nightlife and the cultural programme of
Scotland's most northerly city, are just a few of the other options.
Activities
All these
activities listed are within easy reach of Evergreen
For walkers this area is without equal. Extensive forests
provide waymarked paths and trails, while you can also enjoy river,
loch and canal walks. In winter, ski centres are in full
swing - Glencoe, Nevis Range and Cairngorm. The area offers a
brilliant choice for golfers. Riding and
trekking is easy to find. And it's a great way of enjoying the
local terrain. Cyclists can find dedicated cycle tracks as
well as off-road choice galore. For anglers, there are great
value day permits - and the advice from the locals comes free! . The
Caledonian Canal is ideal for yacht or cabin cruiser.
In fact, this area and closeby offers water-sports of all
kinds, from river-kayaking to wind-surfing.
www.boots-n-paddles.co.uk - Outdoor adventure sports company
www.rothiemurchus.net -
Rothiemurchus Estate offers a range of outdoor activities
www.bogbainfarm.com - Quad biking for all the family
Adventure sports
Ever tried gorge walking? How about white-water rafting?
Maybe you want to brush up on your winter skills or your hill
navigation? Winter, of course, brings its own set of challenges for
skiers, downhill, X-country or Telemark.
The list of adventurous things to do is as varied as the land itself
here in the Highlands.
www.boots-n-paddles.co.uk - gorge walking, canyoning and
abseiling are a few of the activities this company offers
www.ice-factor.co.uk - The biggest indoor ice climbing facility
in the world
www.monsteractivities.com - wide range of outdoor activities,
including white water rafting only 45 minutes from Evergreen
Cycling
There are excellent cycling opportunities not just because in this
area of low population many roads are quiet anyway, but because
there are so many ways in which cyclists are encouraged. There are
off-road opportunities by way of a huge range of forestry tracks,
for example. In the area around South Loch
Ness, the networks of quieter roads offer fantastic scenery and
everything from short circuits for an afternoon to multi day routes.
www.southlochnessaccess.org.uk/ - Trail of the Seven Lochs - 50
mile loop suitable for cycling, horseriding and walkers within 2
miles of Evergreen
www.highlandbikes.com - Cycle Hire in Inverness
Fishing
There is good fishing on the lochs
on the south side of Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal in the Great
Glen itself. Permits are, in most places,
excellent value. We are happy to
advise and arrange a permit. Daily, weekly or season permits are
usually available.
www.whitebridgehotel.co.uk - For information and permits on
South Loch Ness
www.fishing-highland.co.uk - Guide to wild trout fishing
www.fishing-scotland.co.uk - Learn Fly Fishing at select
Highland Lochs
Golf
The fame of Highland courses reaches its height, perhaps, with the
great classic east-coast championship courses at Nairn (past host to
events such as the British Amateur Championship and the Walker Cup)
and also Dornoch whose grand seaside links have earned it the title
of "the St Andrews of the North". Then there are a whole range of
quirky courses, as well as smaller courses where it is easy just to
turn up and play. Highland golf, in all its variety, has something
for players of all standards.
www.golflochness.com - Fairways Golf Centre, Inverness
www.royaldornoch.com - Championship course at Dornoch
www.nairndunbar.com - Championship Links Course, Nairn
Mountain Biking
In their late 2004 survey the International Mountain Bike
Association (IMBA) voted Scotland as the world's number one mountain
biking destination in its people's choice category.
For the more moderate mountain
biker there are off-road opportunities by way of a huge range of
forestry tracks. These include the Rothiemurchus
Estate, Glenmore and Inshriach forests near Aviemore with miles of
safe tracks through the pinewoods. Or further south try the Laggan
Wolftrax blue trail. Leanachan Forest near Fort William also offers
plenty of waymarked routes while further up the
Great Glen and west towards Cannich and Glen Affric there are many
trails both waymarked and unmarked. New trails are also being
developed on the Black Isle and in the Glen Affric area. .
www.forestry.gov.uk/wolftrax - Laggan Wolftrax - Mountain bike
trails
www.rothiemurchus.net - Route maps for family mountain biking
www.nevisrange.co.uk - Award winning World Cup downhill track
Pony Trekking & Horse Riding
With its network of old routes through the glens, Scotland is made
for riding and trekking. A variety of Highland riding and trekking
operators offer everything from short treks for youngsters and
beginners, or more challenging routes for the expert rider. A new 50 mile loop on the south side of
Loch Ness has been developed by riders. Wherever you choose, you can be
sure that the view from the saddle will certainly be rewarding.
www.lochnessriding.co.uk - Loch Ness riding situated above the
village of Dores, South Loch Ness
www.borlum.co.uk
- Highland Riding Centre, Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness
www.southlochnessaccess.org.uk/ - South Loch Ness Access Group
Snowsports
Skiing in the Highlands is friendly, unpretentious and enjoyed by
all ages and all standards of skier will find it rewarding - and
that applies to telemarkers and snowboard enthusiasts, too.
There are three Highland ski
centres - Nevis Range near Fort William, Caringorm near Aviemore and
Glencoe, all of them with highly qualified instructors and ski
schools offering every level of tuition. In addition, ski tourers,
ski mountaineers and cross-country enthusiasts can seize the moment
when conditions are right - sometimes even at low levels when
forestry tracks used by walkers and cyclists at other times of year
make ideal cross-country terrain.
www.nevisrange.co.uk - Enjoy skiing on the slopes of Aonach Mor
www.cairngormmountain.co.uk -
Cairngorm Mountain Ski Area in the heart of the National Park
Watersports
We are close to a wide range of watersports. Loch Insh is a popular
place, offering sailing dinghies, canoes, windsurfers and also river
trips on the River Spey itself. Watersports is also an
important theme around the Great Glen. In the Laggan area, you can
easily find a range of activities, both on the loch sections of the
Caledonian Canal or on Loch Oich
www.boots-n-paddles.co.uk - Canoeing on Loch Ness or on nearby
rivers
www.lochinsh.com
- Loch Insh Watersports offer a range of activies both on and off
the water
www.monsteractivities.com - Canoeing and Kayaking as well
as speed boat activities
Wildlife and bird watching
Dolphins
The Moray Firth, is one of only
two places in the UK where bottle-nosed dolphins can be seen. There
are various boat trips taking visitors out into the Firth where the
dolphins will frequently follow the small boat. Other viewing spots
are the shore at the narrows between Channoray Point on the Black
Isle to the north of Inverness and Fort George to the east. The best
times are when the tide is flowing strongly and when the sun is out
- they seem to enjoy jumping out of the water when the sun shines!
www.inverness-dolphin-cruises.co.uk - Moray firth Wildlife
Cruises, Inverness
www.dolphintripsavoch.co.uk - Dolphin Trips Avoch,
Avoch, Black Isle
www.ecoventures.co.uk - Ecoventures, Cromarty, Black Isle
Red deer can be seen on many areas of higher ground in the South
Loch Ness area. Between Whitebridge and Fort Augustus, look
out for large groups, mainly in the winter months
Birdwtching
RSPB Loch Ruthven Nature Reserve, Inverness-shire.
This is the best site in Britain to guarantee views of Slavonian
grebes with their spectacular breeding colours. Ospreys visit almost
daily during their season and red-throated divers, goosanders and
other waterfowl can be expected. Passerines include whinchats,
redpolls, wheatears and the occasional ring ouzel. You may even see
short-eared owls and hen harriers.
Upper Findhorn, Coignafearn, Inverness-shire.
This is very much golden eagle country but other species you may see
are peregrines, merlins, kestrels and sparrowhawks. Dippers and grey
wagtails are found along the burn and lapwings and oystercatchers
nest in the meadows near the river. Ring ouzels, wheatears, meadow
pipits and the distinctive stonechat are all found here.
Occasionally red grouse may be seen or heard. As a bonus you can
usually see large herds of red deer browsing on the hill.
